Boat



April 2, 1946. F. N; NELSdN BOAT Filed Dec. 23, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 fFEED N N51. 50/1 ATTORNEY Apiil 2, 1946. F. N. NELSON BOAT Filed Dec.23, 1942 3Sheets-Sheejl'. 2

.- INVENTOR 5?:0 N. lvasory ATTORNEY 7 April 2, 1946. -.F. N. NELSONBOAT Filed Dec. 25, 1942 3 Sheets-Sheet s Patented Apr. 2, 1946 UNITEDSTATES PATENT. OFFICE BOAT ' Fred N. Nelson, Seattle, Wash., assignor toSafety Boat Company, a corporation of Washington Application December23, 1942, Serial No. 469,872

'3 Claims. (o1.114-ee.5

This invention relates to boats and has for its principal object toprovide a boat having a hull design that permits of high speed operationof the boat in rough water or high seas without danger ofbeing capsized.

Still. other objects of this invention reside in specific details ofconstruction and combination of parts, as will hereinafter be fullydescribed' In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, Ihave provided the improved details of construction, the preferred formsof which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein- Fig. lis a top, or plan view of a boat embodied by the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is a stern view of the boat shown in Fig. 1, looking forward.

Fig. 4 is a bow view of the boat, looking aft.

Fig. 5 is a central, longitudinal sectionalview of the boat.

Fig. 6 is a cross section on line 6-6 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a cross section on line 1-1 in Fig. 5.

Fig. 8 is a side view of a boat of a similar kind suited for vpeactimeuses.

Fig. 9 is atop view of the same.

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail of a hatch cover lock.

Fig. 11 is a" sectional detail of the scupper valve structure.

Fig.'12 is a sectional detail of a clearing port valve.

, Explanatory to the present invention, it will here be stated that itis my intention that this boat be of a kind that may be equipped withsteering and propulsion means capable of various means of remotecontrol; that is, to be equipped with known devices that adapt it to beoperated as above explained, under control of apparatus, also known inthe art, that maybe located on the ship, aircraft or land station fromwhich the present boats are to be controlled, so that the boat, afterbeing loaded with explosives or other materials, may be directed to theobject to be destroyed. I

Furthermore, it is anticipated that these boats be of a character to beequipped with sound sensitive devices, capable of being tuned to receivecertain sound vibrations whereby to effect the steering control devicesin such manner as to cause the boat to seek the particular object to bedestroyed. For example, such, an object might be a submarine, orbattleship. As alternative means for this purposadevices based on thethermocouple principle may be used, these to be set to pick up andfollow heat rays as from the smoke stack of a vessel, or infra-red rayswith the object of finding the vessel or other object through fog orsmoke screen.

It is also the intent thatthe presentboat be designed to be equippedwith devices, also capable of remote control, for causing its cargo ofexplosive materials to be set off, or exploded at any predeterminedinstant, or to be reset against explosion in the event that it shouldbev desired to cause the boat to return to its-launching station.Especially, it is desired to so design the present type of boat that itcan be caused to safely ride the waves at high speed, without capsizingand without being thrown ofi course.

Furthermore, his the intent that boats of the character above outlinedshall be of a kind adapted to be made from non-strategic materials whichare readily available, such as plywood panels, and that they may bepowered by engines of various kinds or types; for example, automobileengines, motor boat engines, or by engines of special design for thisparticular purpose.

Referring more'in detail to the drawings- The hull of the boat, asobserved best in Figs. 1 and 2, is of substantial beam and relativelyshallow. The opposite sidewalls Ill-l0 of the hull are substantiallyvertical throughout the length of the boat, being gradually curvedinwardly toward each other to form the bow end, as noted at II inFig. 1. From the curve of the bow section, the side walls Iii-40 extendsubstantially parallel. to each other to somewhat beyond amidships and:then, beginning at the point I z in Fig. 1, a slight inclination towardeach other to the stern.

The stem panel [3 is substantially square cut, having but slightrearward curve, and is inclined rearwardly to slight extent from thebottom.

An important feature of the design of the present' boat resides in thenovel bottom construction. It is to be observed, in Figs. 2 to 5, thatslightly forward of amidship, the bottom is stepped, thus providing avertical, transverse and rearwardlyfacing shoulder l5. Forward of thisshoulder, the bottom has a longitudinal keel ridge it from which theopposite side sections l1 and ll of the bottomslope upwardly in alateral direc tion, as shown best in Fig. 4, and merge into the bow atabout the load water line. It is noted in Fi 2 that the water line, orbase line is desi nated at W and that the stepped portion of the bottomis somewhat below this line, while the bottom, where it meetsthe stem,is just above the Water line. The bottom sections iI-il meet the"thus-prevented I horizontal line, as shown at in Figs. 3 and 4.-

and then .as itron-tinues rear weirdly, lie transverselyicurved, asnotediin Figs. :3 and 6; so that in effect the boat will have threeconcentrated areas or points of support when traveling at high speed inthe water; one area being along the forward end portion of the keel, ofthe bow section, and the other twotareas .beingalong the rear endportions of the oppositep-side areas at the bottom of the stern section.This stem end;

support of the boat is augmented by pontoons 'o'r wings 26 and 26 thatare built onto the opposite side walls along the stem end portion of thehull,

' as=shown in Fig.1. These poiitoons'haveaoutside1 Walls '21 Which are"subStal'itiaMy I upright, and

have bottoms 28 "that s'lo'pe invwardly and downwardly at an angleof'about-45to meet the edge off the bottom 1 section 22 'thus forml-n*kejel 1 ridges -'[t is shown inFig. 6 "that these pontoons or wings 1extend laterally of the bull -to substantial distances, and "are closed,thus "to give additional buoyancy and' g'r'eater insurance againstcapsiz= 7 ing the boat in high speed-operation.

Inthe construction of thehull, transverse-bulk heads, -as -at -30 'and 3I are pro'vided asneededfor strength orto provide the-desired separationof i ilso, lon'gitudinal bulkheads compartments.3'23'2,"-symmetricallyilocatediat opposite'si'd'es cf thelongitudinallcenter land textending 11111 length-of the boat;arebuiltiin tmgivetadditional strength and serviceabilityto ther'structurer.These tion. ffalsei'bottomifi'l isprovidedfinfchescockpit and thereisa' ttransversepartition1.318 in the ic cokpit :setting oll *a'icompartment'ifor the engine 'whi'cli lis designated by inumeral 40.

i The top of the hull-is covered awith'ian upwardly crowned 'deck and inthis :a hatch mpening 16 into hold 36 '170 'iwhich' opening ta rcover"plate 4' "-is applied andiheldin qalacezbyrarrchor ibolts 118.Lik'eWisaithefco'dkpit'openingiisiclosed-by a coverr'platea'sll' heldsecure by iancl'ror bolt 5! longitudinal bulkhead'sserveasrarpartloftarcocb pit 35 in the a'fter' section :of :ithe hull"and walso f asbpposite s'ideszof talhold3-3 6"in=the forward sec- A-s*a "detail of constructiomsshown inlFig.,E),

"the anchor 'bo'lt's I48 are "rexterided n'otatably through theedgetportions .of the cover plate t! applied over the hatch opening 4,8and are .held

longitudinal movement. sAt their-lower ends these boltshavetlaterallyzturnedkfeet Slit-adapted to enter slots 56 5 in thezflanges' ro'f angle bars or 5-1 whereby they .may beaturnnd rtoz'causethe ;feet

to eligage' wi'th-in the slots-56' ato 'anchor"- the i'c'o-ver in plaeejThe slots preferably-rare inclined to efiect a :cammin'g action wherebyrthe-"cover may be drawn down-tight :and' leakage :into the I'hcld Thebolts 5! which anchor zth-e cover :plate 53 by'collars-or-'shoulders=54yformedzthereomagainst in place are madeaccordingly 'as aiethe bolts '(8- and lo'ck the plate Kin-place irirthe=-saine :mannet .7 'Toprovideior ventilating-litherenginecomparb theengine 46.

thisfcompartmerit. Noteth'atthe funneltube extends into the air passage62 above the deck to vreliminate the entranceof any water into this 7tube. 15

Water that may enter the hood through opening $3 will be drained offthrough openings sGB in theeopposite side walls of the hood.Opening-fidasinrFig. .12, is preferably equipped with a hinged valveplate 69 to permit outflow but to check'infiow of water. V

.Inzorder that any water that might for any reason enter the boat hullmay be drained oil, Ihave' provided "a scupper tube 10 opening ---at itsforward end through the-'bulkhead ffl into the cockpit as shown in'Fig.5. At "its irear end this scupper tube opens 'throughthe stern panel ina downwardly directed manner.- In'zthe' tube is a pivotally mounted flapvalveliadapted to=close against a shoulder or seat *"IE to preventinflow of water 'but-to open automatically for outfiow. It will bereadily understood that in -travel of the boat there will beanatural-suctionproduced that willkeep'the hull drainedof anfy waterthat "might leak thereihto. 7

For the propulsion of the boat, i'have provi'ded This may beany'suitable type, and it maybe located and supported as "shown in Fig.5 or in any other suitable or desirable position. As here shown, theengine shaft extends forwardly through the bulkhead 30 and isoperatively connected by 'gearingdesignated at 91 withthe'propeller-shaft 9-2; 'Shaft92 "extends through the step portion ofthe bottomfithrough a suitable bearing 33 'andfatits "rear jend lisT031- ried by .a bracket {i l tand is "there equipped withpropeller'95.-

The steering rudder .96 "is fixed orr'a vertical post 91revolublednibea'rings and fat the "upper end 'ofthe post '91 "is' atiller 98 which extends through a slot :99 in the rear end, down curveofthe deck, and is operatively connected Withra steering control devicedesignated atJllllfiI It will here be explained that the steeringcontrol device may be one of various kind, lbut it is theintent thatjitbe capable of rjemote'con- 111101 by known electrical devices not .heredlsclosed. However, the .tiller niight be operated mechanically bymechanical devices .lunder magnetic control and timed by blockmechanisms of various kind. The ,prime mover .and steeringcontroldevices, per se, are not @claimed as. parts of this inventionexceptas elementsof -.a-comblnation. Y

The design of this boat provides ample space for the .loadingofexplosive vor/and incenliiiary material such as used for the destructionof ships, docks .and installations. Such .materials may beplaced inthehold-of ithe Iorwardmortion .of the boat as well asinithe cockpit.:Space is;also;providedfor.the carrying ofiaztankloffuel operations andthe exploding of the explosive material.

Boats of this character of construction may be operated at high speed inhigh seas and rough water with safety to equipment and will not capsize.Therefore, they are especially suited to the intended use as weapons ofdestruction. However, when modified to some extent, they are suitablefor peacetime uses. Therefore, I have shown in Figs. 8 and 9, amodification of the boat structure especially for peace-time uses. Inthese views it is to be noted that the cockpit is open and about it ahousing H0 is built, providing an open cockpit. The ventilating hood 60of the boat previously described, is embodied in this structure whichextends to the stem to house the tiller lever to which the conventionalsteering cables or other devices might be attached. This housingprovides a streamlining effect that is especially desirable for speedboats. be understood however that this is but one of variousmodifications in the hull design of the boat shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

Such boats as here have been described are extremely desirable for thepurposes stated and in their construction and use, the objects of theverse, vertical, rearwardly facing step, and there being lateralpontoons built onto the'hull at opposite sides along its aft portion;that part of the bottom that is forward of the said step being It is toformed with a central, longitudinal keel ridge that merges into atapered stem, and with that part that is aft of the said step beingtransversely arched to the full width of the bottom and downwardly andrearwardly sloped, with the aft side edges of the bottom joining withthe bottoms of the pontoons to form each with a keel ridge.

2. A boat as recited in claim 1, wherein the bottoms of the pontoonsmerge gradually into opposite sides of the boat hull and wherein thekeel ridge of the forward portion of the bottom and keel ridges of thetwo pontoons are downwardly sloped in a rearward direction.

3. A boat of the character described comprising a hull havingsubstantially vertical sides, a transom type stern panel, and a bottomthat is formed at approximately amidships with a transverse, rearwardlyfacing step, and having that part of the bottom that is forward of thestep formed with a central longitudinal keel ridge leading into atapered stem, and with the opposite side sections thereof upwardly andlaterally sloped to merge with the sides in chines that are inclinedupwardly, forwardly and lead into the stem along upwardly curved lines,and having that part of the bottom that is aft of the step transverselyarched to the full width of the bottom and downwardly and rearwardlysloped; lateral pontoons built onto the hull at opposite sides along itsaft portion; the aft edges of the bottom joining the bottoms of thepontoons at opposite sides of the hull to form longitudinal keel ridgesand the bottoms of the pontoons 85 merging gradually into the sides ofthe boat hull.

FRED N. NELSON.

